Module |
Relevance to Credit Unions |
The Principles for Businesses (PRIN) |
The Principles for Businesses (PRIN) set out, high-level requirements, some of which are imposed by the FCA and some by the PRA.12 They provide a general statement of regulatory requirements. The Principles apply to all12credit unions. In applying the Principles to credit unions, the appropriate regulator12 will be mindful of proportionality. In practice, the implications are likely to vary according to the size of the credit union. 121212 |
Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls (SYSC) |
SYSC 1 and SYSC 4 to 10 apply to all credit unions in respect of the carrying on of their regulated activities and unregulated activities in a prudential context. SYSC 18 applies to all credit unions without restriction. |
Threshold Conditions (COND) |
In order to become authorised under the Act all firms must meet the threshold conditions. The threshold conditions must be met on a continuing basis by credit unions. Failure to meet one of the conditions is sufficient grounds for the exercise by the appropriate regulator12 of its powers. 1212 |
Statements of Principle and Code of Practice for Approved Persons (APER) |
The purpose of the Statements of Principle contained in APER 2 is to provide guidance to approved persons in relation to the conduct expected of them in the performance of a controlled function. The Code of Practice for Approved Persons sets out descriptions of conduct which, in the opinion of the appropriate regulator12, do not comply with a Statement of Principle and, in the case of Statement of Principle 3, conduct which tends to show compliance within that statement. 12 |
The Fit and Proper test for Approved Persons (FIT) |
The purpose of FIT is to set out and describe the criteria that the appropriate regulator12 will consider when assessing the fitness and propriety of a person in respect of whom an application is being made for approval to undertake a controlled function under the approved persons regime. The criteria are also relevant in assessing the continuing fitness and propriety of persons who have already been approved. 12 |
General Provisions (GEN) |
GEN contains rules and guidance on general matters, including interpreting the Handbook, statutory status disclosure, the appropriate regulator's12 logo and insurance against financial penalties. |
Fees manual (FEES) |
This manual sets out the fees applying to credit unions. |
Conduct of Business sourcebook (COBS) |
A credit union which acts as a CTF provider or provides a cash-deposit ISA will need to be aware of the relevant requirements in COBS. COBS 4.6 (Past, simulated past and future performance), COBS 4.7.1 R (Direct offer financial promotions), COBS 4.10 (Systems and controls and approving and communicating financial promotions), COBS 13 (Preparing product information) and COBS 14 (Providing product information to clients) apply with respect to accepting deposits as set out in those provisions, COBS 4.1 and BCOBS. |
Banking: Conduct of Business sourcebook (BCOBS) |
BCOBS sets out rules and guidance for credit unions on how they should conduct their business with their customers. In particular there are rules and guidance relating to communications with banking customers and financial promotions (BCOBS 2), distance communications (BCOBS 3), information to be communicated to banking customers (BCOBS 4), post sale requirements (BCOBS 5), and cancellation (BCOBS 6). BCOBS 5.1.13 R (Value dating) does not apply to credit unions. The rules in BCOBS 3.1 that relate to distance contracts for accepting deposits are likely to have limited application to a credit union. This is because the Distance Marketing Directive only applies where there is "an organised distance sales or service-provision scheme run by the supplier" (Article 2(a)). If, therefore, the credit union normally operates face to face and has not set up facilities to enable customers to deal with it at a distance, such as facilities for a customer to deal with it purely by post, telephone, fax or the Internet, the provisions will not be relevant. |
Supervision manual (SUP) |
The following provisions of SUP are relevant to credit unions: 13SUP 1A13 (The appropriate regulator's12 approach to supervision), SUP 2 (Information gathering by the appropriate regulator12 on its own initiative), SUP 3.1 to SUP 3.8 (Auditors), SUP 5 (Skilled persons), SUP 6 (Applications to vary or cancel Part 4A12permission), SUP 7 (Individual requirements), SUP 8 (Waiver and modification of rules), SUP 9 (Individual guidance), 13SUP 10A and SUP 10B13 (Approved persons), SUP 11 (Controllers and Close links), SUP 15 (Notifications to the appropriate regulator12) and SUP 16 (Reporting Requirements). Credit unions are reminded that they are subject to the requirements of the Act and SUP 11 on controllers and close links, and are bound to notify the appropriate regulator12 of changes. It may be unlikely, in practice, that credit unions will develop such relationships. It is possible, however, that a person may acquire control of a credit union within the meaning of the Act by reason of holding the prescribed proportion of deferred shares in the credit union. In relation to SUP 16, credit unions are exempted from the requirement to submit annual reports of controllers and close links. 1212121212 |
Decision, Procedure and Penalties manual (DEPP) |
DEPP is relevant to credit unions because it sets out: (1) the FCA's12 decision-making procedure for giving statutory notices. These are warning notices, decision notices and supervisory notices (DEPP 1.2 to DEPP 5); and (2) the FCA's12 policy with respect to the imposition and amount of penalties under the Act (see DEPP 6). 1212 |
Dispute Resolution: Complaints (DISP) |
DISP sets out rules and guidance in relation to treating complainants fairly and the Financial Ombudsman Service. |
Compensation (COMP) |
COMP sets out rules relating to the scheme for compensating consumers when authorised firms are unable, or likely to be unable, to satisfy claims against them.12 |
The Enforcement Guide (EG) |
The Enforcement Guide (EG) describes the FCA's12 approach to exercising the main enforcement powers given to it by the Act and by regulation 12 of the Unfair Terms Regulations. 12 |
Financial crime: a guide for firms (FC) |
FC provides guidance on steps that a firm can take to reduce the risk that it might be used to further financial crime. |
Related provisions for TC 1.1.1
1Activity |
Products/Sectors |
Is there an appropriate qualification4requirement? 4 |
|
Designated investment business carried on for a retail client |
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Providing basic advice |
1. |
Stakeholder products excluding a deposit-based stakeholder product |
No |
Advising |
2. |
Securities which are not stakeholder pension schemes, personal pension schemes7 or broker funds |
Yes |
3. |
Yes2 |
||
4. |
Packaged products6Retail investment products6 which are not broker funds |
Yes2 |
|
5. |
Friendly Societylife policies where the employee is not reasonably expected to receive a remuneration of greater than £1000 a year in respect of such sales |
No2 |
|
6. |
Friendly Society tax-exempt policies (other than Holloway sickness policies where the Holloway policy special application conditions are met)5 |
Yes2 |
|
7. |
Yes2 |
||
8. |
Investments in the course of corporate finance business |
Yes2 |
|
9. |
Yes2 |
||
Undertaking the activity in column 2 |
10. |
Yes |
|
11. |
Yes2 |
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Advising and dealing |
12. |
Securities which are not stakeholder pension schemes, personal pension schemes7 or broker funds |
Yes |
13. |
Yes2 |
||
4Dealing |
13A.8 |
Securities which are not stakeholder pension schemes, personal pension schemes7 or broker funds |
No |
No |
|||
13C. |
No |
||
Managing |
14. |
Yes |
|
Overseeing on a day-to-day basis |
15. |
Operating a collective investment scheme or undertaking the activities of a trustee or depositary of a collective investment scheme |
Yes |
16. |
Safeguarding and administering investments or holding client money |
Yes2 |
|
17. |
Administrative functions in relation to managing investments |
Yes2 |
|
18. |
Administrative functions in relation to effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance which are life policies |
Yes2 |
|
19. |
Administrative functions in relation to the operation of stakeholder pension schemes |
Yes2 |
|
Mortgage Activity10 and reversion activity carried on for a customer 10 |
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910Advising; arranging (bringing about) an execution-only sale, excluding variations to an existing home finance transaction except where the effect is to change all or part of the home finance transaction from one interest rate to another. See Note 3, which for the avoidance of doubt forms part of this rule. |
20 |
Regulated mortgage contracts for a non-business purpose |
Yes |
20A |
Regulated mortgage contracts for a business purpose |
No |
|
21 |
Yes |
||
9Designing scripted questions for execution-only sales |
21A |
Regulated mortgage contracts for a non-business purpose |
Yes |
21B |
Regulated mortgage contracts for a business purpose |
No |
|
22 |
Yes |
||
Overseeing execution-only sales on a day-to-day basis9 9 |
23. |
Yes |
|
Non-investment insurance business carried on for a consumer |
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Advising |
24. |
No |
|
3Regulated sale and rent back activity carried on for a customer |
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Advising |
25. |
No |
|
Overseeing an execution-only sale10 on a day-to-day basis 10 |
26. |
No |
|
Notes: |
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1. |
In the Appendix the heading and types of business specified in the headings are to be read in conjunction with the paragraphs appearing beneath them. |
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2. |
Thus, for example, paragraph 24consistent with the heading above it3, refers only to advice on non-investment insurance contracts given to a consumer.10 3 |
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103. |
For the purpose of product numbers 20, 20A and 21 the activity of arranging (bringing about) referred to in the activity column: (a) includes activity which would be arranging (bringing about) but for the exclusion in article 28A of the Regulated Activities Order; and (b) does not include activities which taken on their own would not fall within the definition of that activity. For these purposes no account should be taken of the fact that for an activity to be a regulated activity it must be carried on by way of business (see PERG 4.3). |